Top 10 Rock Bands of All Time

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Keith

Top 10 Rock Bands of All Time

We asked our Facebook fans to tell us the best rock bands of all time. Here are the 10 groups that received the most votes in our unscientific poll.

Coming in as the all-time favorite, The Beatles have arguably been the most influential musicians in rock history. Formed in Liverpool in 1960, the Fab Four combined rock & roll, psychdelia, and even classical elements, into beautiful, harmonious music. Songs from their original 12 studio recorded albums are still played on the radio, performed by cover bands, and belted by fans worldwide.

by Keith Gildea

Is your favorite band missing from our list? Join the conversation on Facebook.

1 of 10

Led Zeppelin

Often cited as the first heavy metal band, the English rockers of Led Zeppelin have had a profound influence on rock since their inception in 1968. As time moved on, their songs definitely did not remain the same. They experimented with different sounds, often delving into world music and British folk, and themes, including mysticism and mythology.

2 of 10

Queen

Trying to place Queen in one genre is impossible. This English band, formed in 1971, encompassed the sounds of vaudeville and heavy metal, and brought them together in perfect balance with theatrical extravagance and camp. With a unique sound and magnetic stage presence, few could argue Queen doesn't belong on this list.

3 of 10

The Cars

Hailing from Boston, The Cars formed in 1976 and were among the most successful American new wave bands. Citing influences from punk, rockabilly, and even bubblegum pop, The Cars developed their own style and were a main attraction in the early years of MTV.

4 of 10

Heart

Formed in Seattle/Vancouver in 1973, many consider Heart among the greatest hard rock bands of all time. The band dabbled in metal and folk music and has sold over 35 million albums worldwide.

5 of 10

Green Day

The punk revivalists of Green Day formed in Berkeley, Calif. in 1988. This band sought to bring the speedy, raw, and overly energetic sounds of late 70s punk to a new generation. They paved the way for American neo-punk, punk metal, and the third revival of ska, and even had a Broadway musical, American Idiot, based on their music.

6 of 10

Journey

Nothing says arena rock like Journey. This band was born out of Santana in San Francisco in 1973. They have fused jazz with rock, and have even delved into the cerebral realm of progressive music. Still together today, Journey hasn't stopped believing.

7 of 10

Santana

Formed in San Fransisco in 1966, Santana's unique latin-blues-jazz-psychedelic rock sound has spanned decades. Their most successful release to date is 1999's Supernatural, proving that even after over 30 years of performing, Santana is still a force to be reckoned with.

8 of 10

The Rolling Stones

Struting onto our list is London's The Rolling Stones. In the late 60s, theybegan calling themselves the world's greatest rock & roll band — and fans worldwide agree. Starting off in 1962, the Stones were raw, blues-based, straight up rock & roll. Their sound came to define hard rock as a genre in the 20th Century.

9 of 10

Mötley Crüe

Formed in Los Angeles in 1980, many consider Mötley Crüe to be the most influential and well-known glam metal band. Their sound defined the 80s for many music lovers, and their on-and-off stage escapades drew enormous crowds.

Is your favorite band missing from our list? Join the conversation on Facebook.